Samhain, the Witch's New Year
‘Happy New Year’ is not too far off of a greeting in the month of October. October 31st, most widely known as Halloween, but also known as Samhain, is thought to be the time of the Witch's New Year. It is a time for casting from you that which you no longer want, and for setting goals to achieve in the next year. 
Samhain, pronounced ‘sa-ween’, means ‘summer’s end’, and marks the end of the light time of the year and the beginning of the dark period of the year. It is a time for digging deep inside yourself and examining what is there, what makes you stronger, and what you can do without. It is a great time to meditate on themes such as change, endings and beginnings, building positive habits, shedding old beliefs or patterns, and setting goals for the upcoming year.
Halloween gets it’s name from ‘All Hallows Eve’, which is the time of the year when the veil between the worlds (spirit and physical) is the thinnest. Traditionally, it is a day (along with All Saints’ Day on November 1st) to honor those who have passed, and often is celebrated by setting a place for each at the dinner table in hopes they will return for one night. You can also bury apples as food for hungry spirits, or hold a seance or work with a spirit board to establish contact with those who have passed. Please note that seances or spirit board work should be done by invitation, not by commanding or summoning the souls.
As the veil between the worlds is the thinnest at this time of year, It is the perfect time for scrying in a dark mirror, a crystal ball, or a dark bowl with ink and water. This is also a great time for casting runes or reading tarot cards to see what the future holds for you. If you read tarot cards, the Wheel of the Year spread is perfect to forecast the year ahead. Pendulums are also amazing divination tools for asking yes or no questions to determine what lies ahead. Messages from beyond are more easily received during Samhain.
Correspondences for Samhain:
Oils- Cypress, Myrrh, Patchouli, Eucalyptus, Coriander, Peppermint
Incense/Herbs- Frankincense, Galangal, Myrrh, Wormwood, Bay, Sandalwood, Rosemary
Gemstones- Obsidian, Carnelian, Onyx, Smoky Quartz, Jet, Bloodstone
Goddesses- Cerridwen, Morrigan, Hecate, Lilith, Kali, all Crone Goddesses
Gods- Osiris, Cernunnos, Anubis, Odin
Candles- Orange, Black and White
Food and Drink- Pumpkins, Pomegranates, Apples, Gourds, Mead, Cider
Find some amazing recipes, decoration ideas and more at our Samhain & Halloween Pinterest Board.
Here at Inked Goddess Creations, we have actually set aside our favorite products for this time of year in our Samhain Category. These items inspire the feeling of the season, and can help with spirit contact, starting your new year and so much more!
Whether you celebrate Samhain, All Hallows Eve, or straight out trick-or-treating Halloween, the history and lore of this season is definitely worth reading about. It is very easy to mesh together practices from all of these to create a wonderful celebration that will nurture your intellectual, social and spiritual sides (and have fun!).
Happy Witch's New Year!!
